Feeding Hummingbirds by Hand

You’ll get a real thrill when you learn the five steps to feeding hummingbirds by hand!

By Stacy Tornio

Montina (ReeMo147)

Feeding hummingbirds by hand just takes a little patience.

It’s one thing for a hummingbird to eat from a container that you’re holding. But it’s another thing to actually feel one of these jeweled fliers on your hand. Abigail Alfano from Covington, Louisiana was determined to touch a hummingbird without harming it, and with a little practice and patience, she finally did. Here’s how she did it.

As the traffic around your feeding area increases, start spending time out there so the hummingbirds get used to you. Even if you scare them off at first, be patient. They will come back.

Once they get used to your presence, hold the sugar-water feeder in your hand. If you are patient, they should eventually start feeding from the one you’re holding.

When you have good hummingbird traffic one day, remove your other feeders. Next, place a small feeder filled with sugar water in the palm of your hand (Abigail used an old milk jug lid).

Now you just have to sit outside and wait. If you choose a day with good hummingbird traffic and remove the other food sources, you’ll have better chances. Be patient and stick with it. You just might feel the flutter of a hummingbird in your hand!

My parents where they use to live had several humming bird feeders. The humming birds would come right to the table in front of them and fludder around them, it was awesome how friendly they can be. They are beautiful birds too.

I have experienced the feeding of hummingbirds from my hand. I held my feeder next to my face and a camera in my other hand and took pictures. I felt the movement of the air from the flutter of his wings on my face! If I had been wearing bright red lipstick, I swear he would have kissed my lips!!

A few years ago, a hummingbird flew into the cabin window and became stunned. It was not doing very well, so we decided to ‘nurse’ it back to health. A few hours later, we released it outside. Over the next few days a hummingbird kept returning to the feeder that seemed to look at me with a familiar gaze in it’s eyes. We had bonded. I always love feeding them whenever I go camping. They hate to see me leave.

I’ve been hand feeding hummingbirds for a long time. It’s an amazing experience to have them perch on your hand. I have a hand held feeder that I designed and sell so others can experience it also. I love being able to help others do this. It’s definitely something every hummingbird lover should try.

Aren’t these creatures unreal?! They are fond of redwoods so they used to be abundant in my backyard. Once I was walking around a corner and a hummingbird almost ran I to my fan. Good thing they fly backwards! We both had a good scare and moved on. I love how you can hear them before you see them.

Please respond asap! I want to do this so I haven’t seen any but does that mean their not around. I want to try this on Tuesday Lords will is there a certain time I should go outside n how long should the kids n I wait? Thanks!

Do you have hummingbirds that regularly come to your feeder? I’ve been putting the feeders up for a few years and they’re finally coming enough that I want to try this! My advice to attract more is to regularly change the sugar water (every week or so) and also maybe have some flowers in your yard to attract them. Once they are coming a lot and getting used to you, follow the steps on here! As for time of day, I haven’t really noticed if they come more at certain times.

I would love to do this! I’ve fed them by holding a feeder in my hand, but always at places where there is a lot of hummingbird traffic. Never at home. I’m finally getting more hummers this year! My 22 monty old daughter loves watching them too

I have held feeders before and had hummingbirds come to them. Finally I’ve had enough hummers at home come regularly to try it! I wrapped my pointer fingers around the perch at the bottom and had one sit briefly on my finger! Best feeling ever! So excited to try hand feeding once they get more used to me.

If you plan of hand feeding a hummingbird, please DO NOT use an open container! If the nectar gets on their wings/feathers, it is hard for them to preen it off. its sticky and they can’t thermogulate, and will succumb to hyperthermia and die!! please check out the page HELP SAVE OUR HUMMINGBIRDS on facebook!! http://www.facebook.com/helpsaveourhummingbirds

Hummingbirds should never be fed from an open container. One splash of sugar water on feathers acts like glue. They can not clean that out themselves. Feathers glued together with sugar water inhibit flight and body temp control. They can also fall out. If anyone is going to hand feed it should only be done with a hand feeder that has a lid. Sugar water on feathers is a very serious danger to them.

Hummingbirds are my spirit animals. When I was four, we saved one and I got to hold it and feed it orange juice (It was a baby). Ever since, whenever I’ve been in hard times, I hear them chirping at me, and if I’m near a Bird Of Paradise flower, they will come right up to me, and I swear, looks at me like, “I understand. It will get better.” I have always wanted to learn more about them, and I would love nothing more than to be able to hold one of these majestic, beautiful souls.